
Boys Youths 

Men. 

by 

JAMscill 




Class 
Book 



Copyright N?.. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT: 



2.^6/o 



BOYS, 
YOUTHS, MEN 



BY 
J. S. HUEBSCHMANN 



1909 

CENTRAL PUBLISHING HOUSE 
CLEVELAND, OHIO 



7/ 






Copyrighted 1909 

By J. S. HUEBSCHMANN 



2486.98 



"Once to every ir\ar\ ar\d nation conges tt\e 

n\oinent to decide, 
In tl\e strife of Trutl\ ^itt\ Falsehood, for tl\e 

good or evil side." 
■•TI\en to side ^witl\ trutl\ is noble "Wl\en "We 

st\are l\er -wretched crust 
Ere t\er cause bring fan\e and profit, and 'tis 

prosperous to be just: 
Tl\en it is tl\e brave n\an chooses, -wl\ile tl\e 

coward stands aside, 
Doubting in *l is abject spirit, till l\is Lord is 

crucified, 
Rr\d ^ e n\ ultitUaes EiaKe virtue of tl^e faittj 

tl\ey t\ad denied." 

James Russell Lowell. 



ill 



PRE F A C E 

SSVVl? he readers will kindly bear in 
* 1 v mind, that his book is m- 
tj* * jj tended for three classes, 
namely, boys, youths and 
men, and therefore demands the plainest 
language and style for the first chapter. 
It is better to be plain in expression and 
to be therefore understood by even the 
boy, than to be painfully bombastic at the 
expense of even only one person's com- 
prehension. 

While this book was written originally 
for boys, youths and men, it may prove 
helpful also to sisters who have erring 
brothers, and mothers and wives, who 
have the duty early to direct their sons' 



youthful steps toward that which is no- 
ble, and to assist in developing manly 
qualities in the husband with whom they 
share their life. 

In sending this little volume out to the 
public, my hope is that it may somewhere, 
be the cause of a good resolution and ac- 
tion and in this measure be instrumental 
in bringing God and men nearer to one 
another. 

J. S. HUEBSCHMANN. 

Cleveland, Ohio, 1909. 



vl 



CONTENTS 

BOYS i 

Sympathy with Boys 5 

Success , 6 

Decision 8 

The Parents' Home 12 

Gymnastics and Breathing 14 

The Clean Mind, Heart and Body 16 

YOUTHS 19 

Youth the Time of Opportunity 23 

Stick-to-it-iveness 24 

Squandering, Avarice and Ac- 
counts 28 

Gambling 33 

Purity 38 

MEN 45 

The Wedding-Day 49 

Home ^ 55 

The Real Man 59 

Til 



BOYS 



"WI\o car\ foretell for \tfi\at t\igt\ cause 
Tl\is Darlir\g of tt\e Gods ^as borr\?" 

"Tt\e cl\ildl\ood stiO'Ws tl\e B\ar\, 
Rs ir[orT[ii\q st\o-ws tt\e day." 

Milton. Par. Regained. 



I. 



SYMPATHY WITH BOYS. 

"When you see a ragged urchin 
Standing whistful in the street, 
With torn hat and kneeless trousers, 
Dirty face and bare red feet, 
Pass not by the child unheeding, 
Smile upon him. Mark me, when 
He's grown he'll not forget it, 
For remember, boys make men." 

/ T"^hese lines contain a great truth, 
A which is but rarely meditated 
upon. When I was but a boy, I learned 
the above lines, and at the same time 
determined to be more thoughtful to- 
ward the boys who were in less hope- 
ful circumstances than myself. Hav- 
ing Christian parents, I realized what 
an advantage I had when compared 
with the boys who have parents who 
assume no responsibility toward their 
children. It is true that words spoken 

5 



6 BOYS 

to an erring boy often meet with un- 
kind rebuff, but again it is true that 
the same words spoken to another, of- 
ten meet with hearty approval and re- 
sult in the correction of a great fault. 
To be abrupt in expression, the hearts 
of older people should go out to boys ; 
older people should sympathize more 
with boys and as a natural conse- 
quence, boys would learn to think 
more as sensible persons do. In other 
words, boys would sympathize with 
manly men and grow to be manly, 
principled men themselves. My heart 
goes out in sympathy to the boy and 
I sincerely wish him success in life. 

SUCCESS. 

The question now arises in the 
boy's mind: "How can I be success- 



SUCCESS 7 

ful ?" In short, allow me to lay down 
a simple rule for you by which to at- 
tain success. But before doing so, we 
must answer the question : "What is 
success, and whence comes it?" Many 
people make the mistake of calling 
luck success. James A. Garfield says : 
"Poets are born, but success is made." 
"Therefore, let me beg of you, in the 
outset of your career, to dismiss from 
your minds all ideas of succeeding by 
luck." Success is the attainment or 
acquirement of that for which one has 
strived. To succeed is to attain height. 
Luck and fortune fall to many, but 
success comes to him only, who perse- 
veringly and honestly tries. I would 
suggest to all boys who wish to be 
successful in life, to follow this simple 
rule: Trust in God, and always dare 



8 BOYS 

to do right! He who abides by this 
rule will keep a clear conscience and 
in the end be rewarded with success. 

DECISION. 

Even from our early childhood 
days, through our youth, and down to 
old age we must continually decide. 
Our actions show our decisions. We 
decide to do our duties, or not to do 
them. We decide to do right or to do 
wrong. Let me quote to my youth- 
ful reader a little incident about a boy 
who knew how to decide. 

"A circus came to town; and the 
great tents and magnificent horses 
made all the boys wild with excite- 
ment. Silver quarters and shillings 
were in great demand, and many a 
choice bit of money did the circtis- 



DECISION 



riders carry away, which was meant 
for better purposes. A little boy was 
seen looking about the circus-grounds 
with a great deal of curiosity. 

'Hello, Johnny!' said a man who 
knew him, 'going to the circus?' — 

'No sir/ answered Johnny; 'Father 
don't like 'em.' — 

'Oh well, I'll give you money to go, 
Johnny.' 

'My father would give me money, 
if he thought it were best ; besides I've 
got twenty-five cents in my strong box, 
— twice enough to go.' — 

'I'd go, Johnny, for once ; it is won- 
derful the way the horses act,' con- 
tinued the man. 'Your father needn't 
know it.' — 

'I sha'n't !' said the boy. 



10 BOYS 

'Now why ?' questioned the man. 

'Cause', said Johnny, twirling his 
bare toes in the sand, 'After I've been, 
I couldn't look my father square in the 
eye, and I can now'." 

Was he not a noble boy? He de- 
cided to do right. With a triumphant 
smile he could tell his father, when 
evening came, how he defied the guile- 
ful tempter. 

But I think of another boy, who did 
not decide to do right. George, for 
that was his name, was often warned 
by his mother not to chum with cer- 
tain boys who, according to the moth- 
er's knowledge, used vile language 
and were therefore not fit company 
for her boy. One Sunday morning, 
instead of going to Sunday-school, 



DECISION II 

George accepted the urgent invitation 
of these boys to go to the river. They 
were boating, and everything seemed 
just right, as they floated rapidly with 
the current. But suddenly a brisk 
gale of wind blew George's hat off 
and into the water. Frightened at los- 
ing his best hat, George made a hasty 
movement for it, falling overboard in- 
to the cold water. With much exer- 
tion and trouble he was rescued and 
taken to his home where he remained 
in a feverish condition for several 
days. George's hat was lost, his suit 
spoiled, he himself taken sick, and his 
poor mother was sadly grieved. All 
this happened because George decided 
to do wrong instead of right, because 
he followed the invitation of those 
wicked boys. The boys who tempted 



12 BOYS 

George were indeed bad company, for 
they desecrated the Sabbath by not 
going to service, and, furthermore, by 
keeping George from going. They 
were bad company, also, because they 
used vile language. In connection 
with this incident it will be easy for 
boys to learn, never to forget, the old 
proverb: "Tell me with whom thou 
goest, and I will tell thee what thou 
doest." 



THE PARENTS' HOME. 



If boys have good parents they 
have, no doubt, also a good home. A 
good Christian home is the best place 
on earth for the growing boy. Boys 
should learn to appreciate their home 
by seeing how much more pleasant it 
is than that of other boys. On the 



THE PARENTS HOME 13 

other hand, when a boy has a bad 
home, he should appreciate the oppor- 
tunity of improving his parents' home 
himself. The boy who tries to reform 
his erring parents and to beautify the 
place he calls home, is indeed a little 
hero. 

I know boys who are the sunshine 
of the home — because they attempt to 
make brothers and sisters and mother 
happy, while the erring father neglects 
this most sacred duty. Because father 
does wrong there is no reason why his 
boys should do likewise. 

One great opportunity which in- 
numerable boys completely disregard 
is the opportunity which reading of- 
fers to all. A boy should consider it 
a splendid privilege to sit in his fath- 



14 BOYS 

er's home reading a good book or a 
wholesome Christian magazine. Good 
reading has always done much for the 
boys who have succeeded in life. Two 
quotations which every boy and youth 
should memorize and meditate upon, 
come to us from Bacon and Alcott. 
"He that can read and meditate will 
neither find his evenings long nor life 
tedious." Bacon. 

"Good books, like good friends, are 
few, and chosen. The more select the 
more enjoyable." Alcott. 

GYMNASTICS AND BREATHING. 

Every boy needs some athletic exer- 
cise. Most boys get some such exer- 
cise. Some even get more than they 
need. With an overabundance of ex- 
ercise the boy is not, as some may ex- 



GYMNASTICS AND BREATHING 1 5 

pect, overly healthy. As it would dis- 
tress a boy and perhaps kill him to eat 
four loaves of bread instead of four 
slices, so also, an overamount of exer- 
cise may subtract from his comfort 

and health. 

* 

A common mistake with athletes is 
that they develop almost always, only 
external growth and not internal 
growth as well. Besides the muscu- 
lar development, the human body 
needs also development of breathing 
powers. It is true that even athletic 
and gymnastic instructors too often 
overlook the art of deep breathing, 
which is essential for the preservation 
of health, and an enemy to the white 
plague, when in its earliest stages. 

Let every boy combine with simple 



I 6 BOYS 

gymnastic exercises, also deep breath- 
ing. Concentrate your mind on de- 
veloping the lower part of your lungs 
as well as the upper part. Deep breath- 
ing exercises should be practiced only 
in the open air or before the open win- 
dow. Good books to read on this sub- 
ject are, "The speaking voice", by 
Mrs. Behnke and "The Art of Breath- 
ing", by Prof. Leo Kofler. 

THE CLEAN MIND, HEART AND BODY. 

When a boy reaches the age of four- 
teen he needs the companionship of a 
good Christian father, to direct his 
youthful steps and to guard his soul 
and body against the wicked tempta- 
tions of this world. Lamentable is the 
fact that not all boys have a Christian 
father to exercise such watchfulness 



CLEAN MIND, HEART AND BODY I J 

over them. Because of this lack of 
parental advice, I would suggest to all 
boys of that age, to read the book of 
Dr. Rev. Sylvanus Staff, entitled : 
"What a Young Boy Ought to 
Know".* But before you read this 
book, my dear boy, heed my advice 
and send a prayer to God that he may 
give you a pure, clean heart, and un- 
derstanding eyes that you may fittingly 
profit by reading it. After you have 
read it, send a prayer of thanks to 
God, that He has given you a book to 
read, which, if you prayerfully follow 
its teachings, can keep you from fall- 
ing victim to sin and can help you to 
become a noble youth. In all things 
dare to do right. Before I conclude 



* Book can be obtained or ordered at all large 
book stores. 
2 



1 8 BOYS 

my message to boys, I find it impor- 
tant once more to emphasize purity of 
mind, heart and body. Never allow 
yourself to be in company of vile 
speaking persons, for vile talk often 
ripens into wicked deeds, such as 
would make you unhappy and miser- 
able forever. 

The boy in the first story I told you, 
kept a clear conscience and could look 
his father in the face, because he did 
not act contrary to his good wish. I 
trust that all boys who read my mes- 
sage, will keep a clear conscience be- 
fore God and men, and grow to be no- 
ble, useful youths. Let me summarize 
what I have written to you, in this 
simple rule: Trust in God and dare 
always to do right. 



YOUTHS 

^5 



4 'Yoiltl\ is tt\e opportunity to do 
son\ett\ir\g ar\d to become 'some- 
body'." 

T. T. Munger. 



21 



II. 

YOUTH THE TIME OF OPPORTUNITY. 

"Youth is the opportunity to do some- 
thing and to become 'somebody'." 

T. T. Munger. 

\jrT ith the passing years of boy- 
^^ hood and the dawning of 
youth, come the hopeful years of as- 
piration for the young man. His 
mind builds castles and no height of 
ambition or exertion seems unsur- 
mountable to him. But just at this 
time more than at any other period of 
his life is he likely to be ensnared. 
While his possibilities are great, his 
dangers also are great. Will he suc- 
ceed or will he fail in life ? His char- 
acter decides his future. If he is to 
have success he must be cautious, per- 
severing, hopeful, honest and God- 



24 YOUTHS 

fearing. Diligently developing these 
qualifications, he opens for himself the 
road to success. Once on the road to 
success, he must allow nothing to di- 
vert his attention from this course. 
As the mountain climber must strictly 
follow his narrow path lest he be 
dashed to death, so must the youth 
tenaciously adhere to the prescribed 
course. 

STICK-TO-IT-IVENESS. 

But now obstacles meet him. He 
grows weary, as he says, of drudging 
along the tedious, laborious course. 
He thinks he needs a bit of pleasure. 
But the pleasure he has in mind is in 
reality not pleasure, but laziness. He 
must cultivate stick-to-it-iveness. He 
should bear in mind that "passion for 



STICK-TOIT-IVENESS 2$ 

pleasure and the habit of lounging have 
hindered thousands of fellows from 
gaining solid success." "But", says 
a shirking youth — "I am tired. It is 
too difficult to keep up as I have been 
doing." Let me tell you, young fel- 
low, everything in life that is worth 
the obtaining is worth working and 
toiKng for. Strenuous efforts put forth 
do not kill, as some think, but on the 
contrary they strengthen, make moral 
muscle and give backbone. 

Ups and downs in your course of 
life keep it fresh and prevent its decay 
just as the wind storm causing the 
ripples and waves on the lake, keep the 
water from becoming stagnant and 
impure. Don't say "can't", but say, 
'Til try", and then do honestly try! 
If you conscientiously act on this res- 



26 YOUTHS 

olution you will overcome many obsta- 
cles which at first seemed like moun- 
tains to you, and you will finally pros- 
per. 

While the thought of giving up 
one's work, simply to take up some- 
thing less strenuous is to be classed as 
a temptation, there are many tempta- 
tions even far greater than this of 
shirking work. These other tempta- 
tions often take men who think no 
work too difficult, out of their good 
positions and transform them into 
good-for-nothings. Let us review such 
snares and temptations and see how 
best to meet them. My advice to all 
youths who desire to become "some- 
body" in life is this: Trust in God 
and always dare to do right. Now 
some youths when reading this simple 



STICK-TOIT-IVENESS 2J 

advice may think it sentimental. They 
may already plan to lay aside this 
book, censuring it as not worth the 
time of reading. However, for your 
own benefit let me ask you to read it 
to the end, that you may learn how 
men in various positions of life, men 
who enjoyed the highest esteem and 
honor, managed to attain their recog- 
nized height. "He who wavers/' 
says Goethe, "is moulded by the 
world, but he who firmly stands to his 
purpose and holds on his way makes 
the world his clay and shapes men to 
his will." Let every youth then be 
determined and resolute. Let him meet 
obstacles and overcome them. He 
who overcomes is a victor but he who 
is overcome is a victim. 



28 YOUTHS 

SQUANDERING, AVARICE AND 
ACCOUNTS. 

While avarice is a vice, squandering 
may also be classed as such. Our 
parents and grandparents tell us to our 
surprise that they spent no money, or 
but very little, for pleasure, before 
they earned money through their own 
energy. And when they spent money 
for unnecessaries they spent cents in 
proportion to our dollars. Yet they 
enjoyed life in a good and helpful 
way. Walks in God's beautiful out of 
doors were more to them than are 
hours, for us, spent in amusement 
parks, where picture shows, boisterous 
vaudeville and burlesque, even beyond 
decency, as well as the many other 
money absorbing attractions demand 
and receive the dollars. When we hes- 



SQUANDERING, AVARICE, ETC. 2g 

itate to think how hard the average 
youth must work for his dollar and 
fifty cents to two dollars the day, does 
it not seem unreasonable for him to 
squander perhaps several dollars each 
week for unnecessaries ? But some 
may retort : 

"Oh! times and conditions have 
changed. There are many more things 
to indulge in than there were in the 
days of our parents and grandparents, 
and we must therefore spend much." 
But allow me to correct you when I 
declare: Indeed times have changed. 
While it is true that there are many 
more unnecessary amusements offered 
people to-day than there were fifty 
years ago, it is also true that, what the 
parents enjoyed we could also enjoy 
with only trivial expense. 



30 • YOUTHS 

Is not God's beautiful out of doors 
with the fascinating panoramas of 
hills and vales, mountains and can- 
yons, fields and meadows, groves 
and forests, brooklets, falls and riv- 
ers, lakes and oceans, free for us 
all to enjoy? There is splendid 
and valuable material for pleasure 
in all these creations of God. A 
common fault to be found with 
many people, is that they consider en- 
joyments which do not require great 
outlay of money, not worth indulging 
in. 

Indeed times have changed, and it 
is believed by many that to-day young 
men have far more opportunity to be- 
come "somebody" than did young 
men fifty and seventy-five years ago. 



SQUANDERING,, AVARICE, ETC. 3 1 

The honest young man, as statistics 
show, is almost invariably in demand. 

I knew a youth who had received 
fair wages for six years. After that 
time his sole property was a stack of 
receipts for board payments, the cloth- 
ing he had on his person and a sickly, 
ill-treated body. During the same 
time another youth had saved over six 
hundred dollars. It strengthens your 
character and purse to know of luxur- 
ies and yet not to indulge in them. 
"It must be an industrious youth that 
provides against age, and he that fools 
away the one must either beg or starve 
in the other." 

At the time of a youth's first pay- 
day he should begin a savings account. 
Let the first deposit be as small as it 



$2 YOUTHS 

may, but by all means open a savings 
account. It gives one courage to work 
when he knows that he has a savings 
account, which should gradually grow. 
If in these days of bank failures one 
doubts the soundness of one bank, let 
him have his accounts with several 
banks. 

Squandering is a vice but avarice 
and covetousness are no less. To 
guard yourself against avarice and 
covetousness follow the capital plan of 
systematic giving, whether to church, 
or to general charitable cause. Open 
a "good cause" account. 

"That man may last, but never lives, 
Who much receives and nothing gives; 
Whom none can love, whom none can 

thank, 
Creation's blot, creations blank." 



GAMBLING 33 

People should decree to give a cer- 
tain percentage of their earnings in 
support to churches, charitable and 
benevolent institutions, and they would 
feel the happier for it. He who gives 
with a cheerful heart, grows richer 
and not the poorer for his gift. 

GAMBLING. 

Painful beyond expression is the 
thought that many promising youths 
are caught by the snares of the gamb- 
ler. The gambler is a black monster, 
who has never brought true happiness 
to any one, no not even to the wicked 
winner! This same monster, as well 
as drunkenness, has brought untold 
agony and distress upon thousands of 
weak, foolish fellows, innocent wom- 
en, and innocent children. 

3 



34 YOUTHS 

I knew a youth of excellent talents, 
who unfortunately began to play the 
races, seemingly as the winner. He had 
often been chided by his nearest 
friends for so doing. But he, like all 
persons afflicted with that passion, said 
that he knew better, that he was doing 
no wrong in playing. He was the 
winner by several hundred dollars. 
But the tables turned and he was min- 
us several hundred dollars. Sense 
came to him at last. He realized that 
he did wrong, as his friends had told 
him. Looking forward to probable 
ruin, he ceased playing the races. His 
experience cost him his reputation and 
several hundred dollars. It was indeed 
an expensive indulgence for him. Why 
should a youth in this manner spend 
his hard earned money, yes, perhaps 



GAMBLING 35 

his father's, or even his mother's, who 
possibly from his infancy on toiled at 
her fingers' tips for his support and 
education. Why pay so high a price 
for the experience, when this admoni- 
tion is true : Shun the gambler for he 
is your bitter enemy. 

Among the many incidents my fath- 
er tells of the time of his home mis- 
sion work in Bremen, Germany, is one 
about a youth, whom he visited while 
officiating in the jails and penitentiar- 
ies as pastor. 

The youth, although only thirty, 
wore curls of gray. His features re- 
sembled those of a man not less than 
fifty. Upon closer acquaintance, the 
prisoner revealed his life's story. In 
short, his confession was this : 



36 YOUTHS 

"I am a poor, lost outcast and 
wreck. I was capable of all crimes. 
Gambling was the beginning of my 
ruin, with which came all the vices as- 
sociated with the gambler. My fath- 
er was wealthy, noble, and God-fear- 
ing. He died when I was twenty. 
Oh God, his dying words torment me 
now. 'My son, fear God, be a noble 
brother to your sisters and stand by 
your mother/ But I deceived him 
even then, for I was only a pretender. 
I became a torment to my sisters and 
instead of standing by my mother I 
grieved her noble spirit and scorned 
her pleading and advice." Half fren- 
zied, he clutched his curls, saying, 
"You see my curls are gray while I 
am only thirty. I experience now 
what I caused others to suffer, name- 



GAMBLING 37 

ly, bitter grief. I am in this prison", 
he continued, "because of theft, but I 
tell you pastor, I should be here for 
murder !" — 

As one demented, he stared upon 
my father. Sinking into his chair ex- 
hausted, with a scream that rang hor- 
ribly through the prison corridors he 
concluded ; "I should be here for mur- 
der, for my sins have grieved, have 
murdered my saintly mother." His 
remorse came, but it came — too late. 
Young man, if you have given your- 
self to the damnable vice, think now, 
repent now, ere it is too late. 

Shun the gambler, for he is your 
bitter enemy. The places of gambling 
are in most cases also homes for vices 
equally bad, which should be courage- 



38 YOUTHS 

ously, manfully shunned. The mole 
first opens his eyes when he dies, let 
every youth be prudent early to con- 
template the reality of vice and not 
fall prey to it. Instead of the gamb- 
ling places and like resorts, let the 
home of your father and mother and 
your sisters and brothers be for you 
the dearest spot on earth. If your 
home is not what it should be, use 
your influence and help it to become a 
real 'home sweet home'. 

PURITY. 

A much written about but too often 
utterly disregarded subject is purity. 
Had I not the opportunity to recom- 
mend to my youthful reader a book of 
Dr. Sylvanus Stall, D. D. entitled, 
"What a Young Man Ought to 



PURITY 39. 

Know", a book worth its weight in 
gold, I should deem it my bounden 
duty to write many pages on the sub- 
ject "Purity". 

However, that I may assume no re- 
sponsibility by silence on this topic, 
thereby, perhaps, allowing some who 
will not read the mentioned book to 
fall a victim to this most hideous and 
dangerous vice, I shall sum the es- 
sence of a few arguments in brief re- 
marks and incidents. 

"Be sure your sin will find you out." 
Many people dislike to be told this ab- 
rupt truth, but like or dislike, as ever 
the case may be, time shall unfold to 
them the truth. Let every youth pre- 
serve a pure mind, heart and body, 
and he shall have a clear conscience 



40 YOUTHS 

before God and men. This is "more 
precious than much fine gold". The 
sin of impurity haunts down her vic- 
tim with merciless vengeance and pub- 
lishes him to the contempt of all man- 
kind. Youth is the fit season in which 
to establish principles for life. It is 
during this season that character takes 
its shape and promises or threatens, 
as the case may be, to remain for time 
and eternity. The tempter promises 
the lustful, gratification of his fleshly 
passion but ultimately undermines his 
health and debases his body, soul and 
character, and makes him an object of 
bitter contempt to all who are pure of 
heart. 

"What we sow in youth we reap in 
age; the seed of the thistle always 
produces the thistle." "Reckless youth 



PURITY 41 

makes rueful age." — That your youth 
may be well lived and your age hap- 
pily spent, I urge every young man to 
read the mentioned book of Dr. Syl- 
vanus Stall. Before reading the book 
proper, do not fail to read the testimo- 
nials on the first pages. And when 
you read the book, ask God to make 
your eyes to see and your mind to con- 
ceive things as it is beneficial to you 
and pleasing unto Him. 

Charles Lamb once expressed his 
opinion on the value of good books as 
follows : "I often feel more like say- 
ing grace before a good book than be- 
fore a meal/' We all have just cause 
to thank God for every good book 
that helps us to grow useful and no- 
ble. 



42 YOUTHS 

Let rme tell you how some persons 
appreciate Dr. Stall's book. 

Only several years ago, while I was 
at St. Louis, I gave a young man, 
whose parents were bad behaving peo- 
ple, a copy of the mentioned book. Af- 
ter reading it he said : "I have a sav- 
ings account of five hundred dollars at 
the bank, but I would sooner do with- 
out it, than to have done without hav- 
ing read that book." 

A pastor whom I well know, a fath- 
er, who does his duty toward his boys, 
took his boy, who was then entering 
upon manhood, into confidential con- 
versation. He reverently but plainly 
told the youth about the mystery and 
purpose of his body, the temptations 
and dangers to avoid and then advised 



PURITY 43 

such reading as I here suggest. Af- 
ter a thorough conversation upon this 
subject, the manly youth flung his 
arms about his father's neck and with 
profound emphasis said: "Oh father 
— I wish that every boy and every 
youth had such a father as I have. O 
father, I wish that every boy and 
every youth had such a father as you 
are, then there would be less sorrow, 
trouble, distress, and more noble and 
successful youths and men in this 
world." It is a lamentable truth that 
not all fathers advise their youths as 
did the man in the above incident. 
Why do fathers neglect this important 
duty ? Either because of false modes- 
ty or because they lack Christian 
strength and determination. 

While it is true that many youths 



44 YOUTHS 

have never yet been spoken to on such 
matters by their father, it remains al- 
so true that no youth who reads my 
little book, has cause to remain ignor- 
ant on these things. He will never 
have cause to say, "Nobody was kind 
enough to advise me." 

With the hope that youths may be- 
come successful, charactered, disci- 
plined, useful, God-fearing men, I con- 
clude my message as I began : "Youth 
is the opportunity to do something 
and to become 'somebody'." 



MEN 



*%p 



"Tl\e firmest fruit eartl\ Isolds up 
to its Ka\er is a fir\isl\ed n\ar\." 

Humboldt. 



47 



III. 

THE WEDDING-DAY. 

T_ THEvN does a youth become a 
^^ man? This question perhaps 
receives much attention from the 
youths who hope to receive an inherit- 
ance, or who wish to marry, as well 
as such who hate parental discipline 
and crave freedom. 

Some argue that one becomes a man 
on his twenty-first birthday. Others 
say the day of marriage decides. 
While it is true that youths become 
legally of age when they are twenty- 
one, it is never true that every youth 
at that age is a real man c But it is 
always true that at twenty-one, one is 
old enough to be a man. Indeed, he 
is then old enough to have developed 

4 49 



50 MEN 

a manly character, he is then old 
enough to use discretion, and plainly 
speaking, to have good common sense. 
But the question is, has he acquired 
such essential qualities. Some men 
develop good common sense only 
when they are twice or thrice of age; 
again, lamentable to state, some never 
come to sense. How say some, "The 
day of marriage stamps a man a real 
man?" 

Let me say that the marriage certi- 
ficate is not a diploma which transfers 
one out of the province of youth into 
that of real manhood and manliness. 
On the other hand, the marriage cer- 
tificate is a diploma, which ascribes to 
one a position with higher responsibil- 
ities than are often complied with. 
Marriage and years are not the most 



THE WEDDING-DAY 51 

essential man-making qualities. Not 
years, but action and character make 
the man. 

Some say, one is at his best on his 
wedding-day. It would be safer to 
say, one seems to be at his best on the 
day of his marriage. Whether one is 
really at his best on his wedding-day, 
time alone will decide, days, weeks, 
months and years after the eventful 
day. 

Marriage is too lighty thought of by 
many people. Judging from many 
persons' views they consider that 
which is sacred, as a mere farce. A 
youth is at his best on his wedding- 
day only then, if after thorough con- 
sideration he determines, let come 
what will, to be that which the specta- 



52 MEN 

tors have every right to believe he is, 
— a true, honest, sincere husband to 
his wife. A husband, who with un- 
flinching determination to do what is 
right, assumes such responsibilities, 
may be considered a fair type of man. 
At this point, however, many per- 
sons, but never real men, shirk. Ex- 
amples of these are husbands, who, 
discouraged over the sickness of wife 
and children, or discouraged when 
misfortune visits the home, or despon- 
dent for some other cause, have brok- 
en their sacred vows by departing 
from wife and home. Why? Because 
they can not stand the strain of re- 
sponsibility. In other words, they 
are not men. Such husbands demand 
freedom and become wife "deserters 
and child deserters. Are they men? 



THE WEDDING-DAY 53 

No, never, but scoundrels! Much 
could be said about women on this 
thought, but it should be understood 
that I am writing for men. In the 
eyes of all rightly judging persons 
such a husband is a villain and never 
worthy of being called a man. He 
deserves the severest contempt of all 
mankind. 

Fidelity is an indispensable charac- 
teristic of a real man, while unfaith- 
fulness stamps the rascal and the fool. 
At the time when Bluecher was to as- 
sist Wellington at Waterloo, the for- 
mer's soldiers wavered, saying: "It 
will be impossible for us to help, we 
will fail. We can not help." But 
Bluecher's resolute reply was : "I have 
given my promise to be there and I 
must, for I shall never break my prom- 



54 MEN 

ise. I have promised." So let every 
husband hold binding his marriage 
vows, remembering what he has 
promised. Before marriage, however, 
let every one thoroughly, reverently 
contemplate that step and remember, 
"That should be maturely considered, 
which can be decided but once." 

The wedding-day always brings 
great momentary, joyous excitement, 
which stirs not only the relationship 
but invades even strange circles. Even 
long before the wedding, the eyes of 
all relatives and acquaintances, are 
fixed untiringly upon the man who is 
to marry. Every possible preparation, 
regardless of trouble and expense con- 
nected therewith, is made for the hap- 
py wedding. 

At last the longed for day has 



THE WEDDING-DAY 55 

come. Arrayed in splendid wedding 
attire, the couple stands before the al- 
tar. Now more than ever are the 
eager eyes of relatives and spectators 
fixed upon the happy pair, while in 
silence all ears are bent to hear the 
vows, which are to bind the two as 
man and wife for life. Many and 
hearty are the congratulations the 
wishes for life-long happiness. Will 
they be happy? It depends upon the 
two. 

home. 

The wedding-day is past, honey- 
moon is over, the newly married cou- 
ple is in their home, which if they so 
choose can be for them the dearest 
spot on earth. 

If the new wife be a home loving, 



56 MEN 

principled, Christian woman, there 
should be no cause for the husband, 
who has chosen her as his life's com- 
panion, to be unhappy with her. The 
truth embodied in J. G. Holland's 
quotation : "A man is always nearest 
to his good when at home, and far- 
thest from it when away," should also 
be applicable in his case. It is not a 
necessary requirement of husband and 
wife, that, because married they live a 
life of seclusion, wholly isolated from 
the rest of the world. In that case 
they would sour and become unendur- 
able, even to each other. However, 
on the other hand it must be under- 
stood that home must be the chief 
source of happiness and that all other 
sources must be only secondary. True 



HOME 57 

appreciation of home-life is beautifully 
expressed in Nathaniel Cotton's lines: 

"Dear Chloe, while the busy crowd 
The vain, the wealthy, and the proud, 
In folly's maze advance 
Though singularity and pride 
Be called our choice, we'll step aside 
Nor join the giddy dance." 

The husband and wife, wishing 
freedom, prefering boarding to living 
in their home, should never have mar- 
ried. Home is the place for the hus- 
band, and home is the place for the 
married woman. The order might be 
reversed thus : Home is the place for 
the married woman and home is the 
place for the married man. But it is 
equally correct both ways. Husbands, 
with ideas harmful to themselves, are 
often inclined to believe differently. 



58 MEN 

Judging from the standpoint that they 
worked hard all day, they demand the 
evening for themselves. But did not 
the wife work all day about her many 
home duties? In this arrogant de- 
mand for liberty we often find the 
cause for unhappy homes and even 
divorces. Why should a husband ex- 
clude his wife from his enjoyments? 
In case he does, he makes home not 
the dearest place on earth, but merely 
a stopping place, where he sleeps and 
eats. Goethe, the almost worshiped 
German poet says : "At evening, home 
is the best place for man." Every right 
thinking man, well knows that "it is 
very dangerous for any man to find 
any spot on the broad Globe that is 
sweeter to him than his home." 

If the home is blessed with children, 



HOME 59 

the parents — not only the mother — but 
also the father, should bless the chil- 
dren with all the parental care and love 
due children. Sensible fathers, instead 
of becoming stumbling-blocks for their 
children, grow to be models of good 
living for their little ones. 

The truly thoughtful and wise hus>~ 
band takes pride in his wife, children 
and home. He plans to make his lit- 
tle domain the most pleasant spot on 
earth and endeavors to make every 
member of his family happy. 

THE REAL MAN. 

"Not all is gold that glitters/' Coun- 
terfeit dollars are not infrequent. 
They look like real dollars but upon 
closer examination they are found to 
be counterfeits and therefore worth- 



60 MEN 

less. At the most, they are worth the 
trouble to destroy them. The luscious, 
rosy apple often deceives one, for in 
the core, deep in the heart, there may 
be the destructive worm. So it is with 
man. He must be tested to the core, 
to the heart, to his very soul, before 
it is safe to call him a real and finished 
man. 

To the wise, blunt speech is always 
preferable to the polished, smooth lie. 
The honest, even awkward man stands 
a better chance in life than the elegant 
pretender. While to the former's ad- 
vantage time unfolds his good quali- 
ties and shows to his employer his real 
worth, time eventually unravels to the 
pretender's disadvantage, his dishonest 
traits and sets upon him the indelible 
stamp of a liar. 



THE REAL MAN 6l 

The able-bodied, healthy person, 
who, while opportunity for work of- 
fers itself, prefers to spend his days in 
idleness, is a thief to his nation and 
country. The orator or politician who 
only speaks of doing great things is 
not successful very long. "Act out 
your genius," says Alcott, "for noth- 
ing else prevails." 

In the light of German history let 
us look upon the active man, Bismarck. 
He lived with a fixed purpose in mind. 
He made it his life's task to create 
and maintain unity among the jealous 
kingdoms and principalities of Ger- 
many, and to make the fatherland the 
first of all European nations. He 
realized the glorious results of his 
strenuous efforts in the united nation, 
the German Empire — now the domi- 



62 MEN 

nant force on the continent of Europe. 
Bismarck knew a good thing when he 
saw it. Therefore thought he, "Now 
we have unity and we must preserve 
it." To secure this end he fortified 
Germany against the possible attacks 
of hostile France by successfully unit- 
ing Germany with Austria and Italy 
in the firm bond of a triple alliance. 
Body and mind of Bismarck were ever 
active. He was the greatest European 
statesman of his time. 

As the electric dynamo evolves 
shining light through tremendous mo- 
tion, so must man be active, body and 
soul, to attain material, physical and 
spiritual height. "Man is born for 
action; he ought to do something. 
Work awakens a sleepy face and roots 



THE REAL MAN 6$ 

out errors." "Who does nothing, 
knows nothing." 

There lives no real man who has not 
in himself firmly established the vir- 
tues of sobriety and purity. What 
has been said in the chapter "Youths" 
regarding purity, applies also to men. 
Honesty, activity, sobriety and purity 
are qualities as indispensable to the 
real man as breath is to the living 
body. Yet there is something else, so 
far unmentioned, which the real man 
needs. Thi? is faith in God. This 
one virtue, if we should so term it, de- 
mands all others. Faith, if it be real, 
will overcome all obstacles, will mul- 
tiply virtues and make possible the real 
man. 

When reading what is here written 
about faith, some people may feel in- 



64 MEN 

clined to lay aside this book, because 
they are not of the Christian faith. 
But I plead with my reader to have 
patience for but a few more pages. 
After conclusion of this book, cen- 
sure its lines if you feel called to do 
so; if on the other hand you recog- 
nize truth in these pages it will be only 
manly for you to pronounce the truth. 
Experience teaches that most unbe- 
lievers are victims to one or another 
or even several pet sins. The unbelie- 
vers say that what we call their pet 
sins, are not sins at all, are not wrong. 
Yet Christian teaching insists, it is sin, 
therefore unbelief detests Christianity. 
Christianity tells the truth, and many 
people to their own disadvantage, pre- 
fer to stop up their ears when the truth 
is told. Unbelievers say: "We want 



THE REAL MAN 65 

freedom." But tell me, thinking man, 
— are they free? No, they are vic- 
tims, they are slaves. But Christ alone 
maketh free. "The truth shall make 
you free/' 

Again there are persons in boyhood 
years, in youthtide and in manhood 
who have lived beautiful lives. Yet 
it must be said of them that they are 
cowards. Why? Because at their side 
their comrades are falling into degra- 
dation, shame and sin, because the for- 
mer are too timid to speak a kind 
word of warning. The fear of offend- 
ing is greater than the fear for the 
neighbor's ruin. This is cowardice. 
Speak a kind word in time, be manly, 
not cowardly, it may help. It is a 
temptation to keep still when you 
should speak, To stand up defying 



66 MEN 

temptations requires that you be de- 
termined in purpose, strong, and hav- 
ing faith in God. 

It seems difficult now and then to 
do right, but conscience is a sweet, 
sweet pillow. Many people never learn 
to live as they should, because they 
fear the thoughtless criticism of fool- 
ish worldlings. Not long ago, a youth 
of our city was asked, and this occurs 
every day, "Which church do you at- 
tend?" "None," replied the young 
fellow. "Why not ?" His answer was, 
"I am ashamed to go to church, for I 
know my chums would laugh at me, 
and ridicule me for going." Sooner 
break the present ties which bind you 
to such friends. Friends who are not 
interested in your spiritual welfare, 
but on the contrary, aim to drag you 



THE REAL MAN 6? 

further away from holiness and virtue, 
are not your friends ! Friendship is a 
very real and close thing. It is one 
of the great joys of life and bears noble 
fruits. We can do much for each oth- 
er; there are burdens we can share; 
we can rejoice with those who do re- 
joice, and weep with those who weep. 
Through sympathy and love we are 
able to forget self. But that is 
not friendship which would take 
from us our most precious privi- 
lege. Beware of those who show disre- 
spect for what is most beautiful in life. 
You can defend yourself from your 
enemies, but you cannot defend your- 
self from such friends. Never permit 
so-called friends to ruin your life, but 
rather exert every possible power to 
bring holiness and beauty into their 



68 MEN 

lives. If you find that you cannot 
thus influence them, then take the next 
best step. Forsake them, and know 
that it is far better to seek righteous- 
ness than to stay with them and follow 
in their paths. Say to harmful associ- 
ates: "I prefer good principle and 
spotless character to you, any day." 
This statement will in no wise betray 
meekness, frailty or cowardice but it 
demonstrates your dignity, soundness, 
honor, manliness and greatness of 
character. Men are often looked up- 
on as fools, and considered simple, nar- 
row-minded and fanatical. Fools are 
often looked upon as men. But sin 
will always find a person out and time 
will teach the truth. Every right think- 
ing and conscientious person glories in 
the man or woman, boy or girl, who 



THE REAL MAN 69 

boldly defies the wrong and espouses 
the right. You have a God-given will 
power. It is up to you to decide con- 
tinually for the right or the wrong. 

While it is said that the man is the 
stronger of the two sexes, it is lament- 
ably true that, numerically, men show 
less inclination toward real strength, 
which is embodied in faith in God, 
than do women. While all have a 
free will, innumerable persons use it 
to their own disadvantage. Yet the 
truly great know God. 

Why is it that all civilized people 
acquainted with history, untiringly 
turn with admiration and affection to 
such men as Lincoln, Webster, Wash- 
ington and others? Why? Because 
these men possessed in a high degree 



JO MEN 

that which makes real men — faith in 
God. "Faith in God is the foundation 
of every great career." 

Some say because Lincoln was not 
enrolled as a member of a church, that 
he sympathized with the infidel and 
atheist. Who says this reveals his ig- 
norance as to the life and writings of 
Lincoln. He revered the Scriptures 
and faith in Jesus Christ. His atti- 
tude toward Christianity is plainly 
manifested in his remarks made Sep- 
tember 1864, to a negro committee 
which presented him a Bible. These 
were his words: "In regard to this 
great Book I have but to say, it is the 
best gift God has given to man. All 
the good Savior taught was communi- 
cated through this Book. But for it, 
we could not know right from wrong. 



THE REAL MAN JI 

All things most desirable for man's 
welfare, here and hereafter, are to be 
found portrayed in it. To you I re- 
turn my most sincere thanks for the 
very elegant copy of the Great Book 
of God which you present/' 

Daniel Webster, the man whose 
mental capacity and comprehensive- 
ness was almost a miracle to his con- 
temporaries, — this man of knowledge, 
whose literary fame is world-wide, had 
faith in God and believed in Christ. 
Many persons make light of Christian- 
ity, saying that only the simple, foolish 
and ignorant are susceptible to Chris- 
tian belief. 

But tell me, was Daniel Webster 
simple, was he foolish, was he ignor- 
ant ? Indeed not ! His knowledge and 



7 2 MEN 

wisdom was colossal while the ridicul- 
ing skeptic's, infidel's and atheist's 
knowledge and wisdom compares with 
Webster's perhaps only as does a drop 
to the ocean. Yet Webster was a 
Christian. He died as he lived, a real 
man. Some of his direct quotations 
made on his death bed come to us from 
Curtis, one of his literary executors. 
The following inscription to be placed 
on his monument was penned by him- 
self. 

" 'Lord, I believe ; help Thou mine 
unbelief." 

"Philosophical argument, especially 
that drawn from the vastness of the 
universe in comparison with the ap- 
parent insignificance of this Globe, has 
sometimes shaken my reason for the 



THE REAL MAN 73 

faith that is in me ; but my heart has 
assured and reassured me, that the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ must be a Di- 
vine Reality." 

"The sermon on the mount cannot 
be a merely human production. This 
belief enters into the very depth of my 
conscience. The whole history of man 
proves it. 

Dan'l Webster." 

After affixing his signature to his 
last will he said : 

"My general wish on earth has been 
to do my Maker's will. I thank Him 
for all the mercies that surround me." 

"No man, who is not a brute, can say 
that he is not afraid of death. No man 
can come back from that bourne; no 
man can comprehend the will or the 



74 MEN 

works of God. That there is a God, 
all must acknowledge. I see Him in 
all these wondrous works. Himself, 
how wondrous! The great mystery- 
is Jesus Christ — the Gospel. What 
would be the condition of any of us if 
we had not the hope of immortality? 
What ground is there to rest upon but 
the Gospel ?" Immediately before his 
death, feeling faint, he cried out to his 
relatives and attendants : "Hold me 
up, I do not wish to pray with a faint- 
ing voice." He then prayed the Lord's 
Prayer and concluded his worship with 
these words: "And now, unto God 
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be 
praise forever and forever ! Peace on 
earth, and good-will to men — that is 
the happiness, the essence — good-will 
toward men." 



THE REAL MAN 75 

Dear to his countrymen was his life 
and sweet to his countrymen is the 
memory of a real man — Daniel Web- 
ster. 

And now from under our glorious 
United States flag let me unvail an 
everlasting monument of a real and 
finished man — George Washington. 
Everett, in his "Life of George Wash- 
ington" says : "In the final contem- 
plation of his character, we shall not 
hesitate to pronounce, Washington of 
all men that have ever lived, the 
greatest of good men and the best 
of great men." Not only America 
but also England and other European 
countries laud the virtuous character 
of George Washington. 

The French writer M. Guizot, 
when writing on the general's charac- 



j6 MEN 

ter, paid him excellent tribute in these 
words : "Of all great men, he was 
the most virtuous and most fortunate." 
Tell me, was Washington simple, 
was he foolish, was he ignorant? In- 
deed not, he was sagacious, noble, tru- 
ly great — and he was a devout Chris- 
tian. Why was his life so beautiful 
and exemplary ? Would you know the 
secret? Because he lived a life near 
God. He communed with his Creator 
daily. In domestic and public affairs 
alike, he endeavored always to shape 
his works in accordance with God's 
laws. He was a strict observer of the 
Lord's Day and therefore a regular at- 
tendant at public worship. It is said 
of him that he commenced each day 
with reading a passage from Scripture 
and offering prayer to God. 



THE REAL MAN JJ 

Even on the battlefield would he 
bow head and knee in prayer to his 
God. The following incident is illus- 
trative of his dependence on God's 
help. 

A Quaker, sympathizing with the 
British army, once followed Washing- 
ton to a secluded spot. To his sur- 
prise he found the general engaged in 
earnest prayer. Thereupon the Quak- 
er, returning to his friends, intimated, 
that the British army would surely be 
defeated by Washington* because the 
general in his earnest way was asking 
help from the Almighty. To Wash- 
ington the Gospel of the Son of God 
was precious. One of his last audi- 
ble prayers as he approached his pain- 
ful death was: "Father of mercies, 
take me to Thyself !" 



yS MEN 

With the death of Washington there 
passed out of this world into the 
realms of God, the soul of a real man, 
loved by thousands, yes millions. The 
Scripture: 'The righteous shall be 
had in everlasting remembrance, ,, is 
being fulfilled. 

We cannot all be a general and pres- 
ident as Washington was; we cannot 
be a sage as was Lincoln; we cannot 
be an intellectual colossal as was Dan- 
iel Webster, but we can, if we choose, 
be virtuous," principled and God-fear- 
ing — and therein lies a man's strength 
and true greatness. 

If any of my readers are wiser than 
was the man, history so often refers 
to — Webster, or greater than Lincoln 
and Washington, let them call Chris- 
tianity and virtue foolishness, if they 



THE REAL MAN 79 

so prefer. But if on the other hand 
their honor and capacity is not so ex- 
tensive as was that of Webster, Lin- 
coln and Washington, it would be only 
rational to acknowledge the high 
worth of the faith of these great men 
and to accept that faith themselves. 
Become wise and adopt their princi- 
ples of living ! For Christianity is not 
foolishness, virtue is not a dream, but 
they are realities. Boys, youths and 
men of maturer years, become real 
men, have faith in God. Introduce in- 
to your life the beautifying principles 
taught by Jesus the Divine! Have 
faith in God! This one virtue, if we 
should so term it, demands all others. 
Faith, if it be real, will overcome all 
obstacles, will multiply virtues and 
make possible the real man. 



OCT gO ^ 



80 MEN 

The wisest human being that ever 
lived, King Solomon, said ; "The fear 
of the Lord is the beginning of wis- 
dom." No human being ever had 
greater wisdom than the author of that 
saying — no — and not even you, my 
reader. Therefore let a wise king be 
your tutor, for there is no wisdom 
without the fear of the Lord. 

"Refer all actions of this short and 
dying life to that state wFich will 
shortly begin, but never have an end; 
and this will approve itself to be wis- 
dom at last, whatever the world judge 
of it now." Tillotson. 

Fill your days with good deeds and 
remember that ; "The finest fruit earth 
holds up to its Maker is a real and fin- 
ished man." 

(the end.) 



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